True Blue JB2 USB Dongle for PS3
Manufacturer: True Blue
Site: Buy from LighTake
Price: $59.99


Overview : Unlock the true potential of your PS3 with True Blue – keep your PS3 on a homebrew enabled custom firmware, while at the same time enjoying the newest and most popular PS3 games.

Features :

• Booting of games designed for PS3 system software v3.6 and above
• Runs your existing games and new v3.6+ games from HDD in conjunction with standard backup managers
• Does not require the power/eject trick
• Custom v3.55 Dongle firmware behaves like OFW when True Blue is not inserted
• Manufactured from highest grade components and Actel based
• Durable and high quality metal case design
• Tough and durable plastic packaging
• Further features to be added as they are developed
• On board 2 MBytes SPI flash
• Supports Fat and Slim PS3 consoles currently running any firmware up to v3.55 and any PS3 which can be downgraded successfully from v3.6+ to v3.55 (NOTE: requires other tools, True Blue cannot downgrade a console)
• Supports all regions of consoles
• Supports all regions of v3.6+ games
• Rock solid crystal oscillator on board for flawless timing

Quality/Usability : AS A REMINDER, WE DO NOT CONDONE PIRACY. THIS REVIEW IS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

The jailbreak scene has been slow ever since Sony blocked any jailbreak dongle devices with new firmware updates. There have been custom firmwares and updates to them but nothing allowing newer games to be played on your console unless you have the official firmware installed but you lose all homebrew capabilities. But out of no where, True Blue is dubbed the new PS Jailbreak 2. No one really know who is behind it but all that matters is whether or not it works, how much support it will get and how long before Sony does something about it. We've all purchased the various dongles when the original PS Jailbreak was released as well as open source versions. Now, lets see what True Blue has to offer...

There are pictures of True Blues coming with plastic cases. However, the unit I received from LighTake came in a anti-static bag. It's still the same thing, just not fancy case. The True Blue JB2 dongle isn't something we're use to normally seeing when it comes to jailbreak dongles. Yes, its a USB device but what makes it different is that it doesn't come in a plastic housing. The black housing is actually metal with the True Blue logo printed on it. Even the cap is metal as well. The back end of the dongle has a small window to display LED status. Other than that, there is really not much about the dongle itself.

To use the True Blue, you must make sure your PS3 has a firmware of 3.55 It can either be OFW (official firmware) or CFW (custom firmware). So if you're still using firmware 3.41, upgrade to 3.55. Anything higher than 3.55, you will need to downgraded. If you have other jailbreak dongles, you can use that to downgrade but True Blue can not downgrade firmwares.

Setting up your PS3
Before you use True Blue, you must first install the 3.55-Dongle custom firmware onto your PS3. This is similar in function to the well known kmeaw CFW; however it also includes modifications which allow True Blue to operate correctly. The 3.55-Dongle firmware updater is distributed in a file labelled "TrueBlue-3.55-CFW.ZIP", and may be obtained through an internet search - once you have obtained it, please confirm the validity of the PS3UPDAT.PUP file contained within the ZIP archive by matching with one of the following hashes:

MD5: 43C522F8897D77B6165F95BCF3409090
SHA1: A64B010DB98996C7E53768D37D4D346F271D5950

Once you have confirmed that you have obtained the correct updater file, proceed with the update as follows:

• Obtain a USB storage device such as a USB HDD or USB flash memory stick
• Create a folder on the storage device in which to save the update file. Using a PC, create a folder named "PS3" on the storage device. Within the PS3 folder, create a folder named "UPDATE"
• Extract "TrueBlue-3.55-CFW.ZIP" and you will get a folder. In that folder will be "PS3UPDAT.PUP"
• Copy the "PS3UPDAT.PUP" file to the "UPDATE" folder created in step 2. Thus, you will have this path structure on your USB storage device: \PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP
• Insert the USB storage device into the PS3 and boot your PS3
• From the home menu, select (Settings) -> (System Update) -> (Update via Storage Media)
• The PS3 will notify you that the "3.55-Dongle" update was found. Select OK then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update
• After the update has completed, your PS3 will restart and you'll now be running the 3.55-Dongle custom firmware. This will also be visible under the System Software information screen. You may now enjoy the use of the True Blue dongle
  (NOTE: The above procedure is only applicable to PS3’s on or below system software v3.55)

Updating True Blue
From time to time, Team True Blue will release firmware updates for True Blue which will add new features. During my testing, Team True Blue released ...

I know, we've been a little MIA with vacations, work, newly launched photography website and a semi slow scene. But today, after getting off work and stepping into the house...SURPRISE! The new True Blue JB2 dongle was delivered. We weren't even expecting this in the mail. This is the newest jailbreak device for the PlayStation 3. Of course, we'll bring you a full review. But right off the bat, this is not your typical USB dongle. No plastic casing! This thing is housed in a metal case...even the cap!

Here are some of the features:

• Booting of games designed for PS3 system software v3.6 and above
• Runs your existing games and new v3.6+ games from HDD in conjunction with standard backup managers
• Does not require the power/eject trick
• Custom v3.55 Dongle firmware behaves like OFW when True Blue is not inserted
• Manufactured from highest grade components and Actel based
• Durable and high quality metal case design
• Tough and durable plastic packaging
• Further features to be added as they are developed
• On board 2 MBytes SPI flash
• Supports Fat and Slim PS3 consoles currently running any firmware up to v3.55 and any PS3 which can be downgraded successfully from v3.6+ to v3.55 (NOTE: requires other tools, True Blue cannot downgrade a console)
• Supports all regions of consoles
• Supports all regions of v3.6+ games
• Rock solid crystal oscillator on board for flawless timing

You can purchase the True Blue dongle from LighTake along with a bunch of other gaming accessories.

*UPDATE* 11/17/2011
Hmmm...it seems LighTake wasn't the one who provided it. Time to investigate... ...

XCM Swapper for PlayStation 3
Manufacturer: XCM
Site: Buy from Play-Asia / Buy from Amazon
Price: $69.90



Overview : Many PS3™ shooting games do not give you the option to use L2 and R2 to aim and fire. But why be forced to use L1 and R1 to aim and fire if you're not comfortable with that controller setup? XCM Swapper gives you an option to swap those keys to suit your personal gaming preference. Not only can the triggers be swapped to however you want, but you can also swap any button (except PS Home button) to any position that you like. The XCM Swapper lets you do swap buttons that games won't allow you to do. Re-enjoy your games.

Quality/Usability : Connecting the XCM Swapper is pretty straight forward. Just connect your PS3 controller to the USB port of XCM Re-Mapper. Then plug the XCM Swapper USB plug to the PlayStation 3™ console.

How to Use :
First, connect your PS3 controller via USB cable to the USB port on the XCM Swapper. Now, connect the USB cable from the XCM Swapper to the USB port on the PlayStation 3.

(1). For an instance, if you want the “/\” (triangle) key to replace the “X” key:
a. Press the “P” program button once. The program indicator will light up. The XCM Swapper is now entering programming mode.

b. Now press the silver printed word “X" button on the XCM Swapper. The “X” button indicator will light up in red. The program indicator will begin to blink.

c. Press the yellow printed word “/\” button and the “/\” button indicator will light up in red. The program indicator will now stop blinking.

d. If you want to remap other keys, follow the above steps “b” and “c” until you are done remapping. If you are done with your remapping of buttons, finally press the program button “P” once. All the indicator lights will turn off and this will exit the programming mode. Now you have the new setting included from the above steps; pressing the “X” key = “/\” key.

Note: the PS Home key can not be programmed.

(2). Swapping the Left and Right analog sticks.
Press the program button “P” and the program indicator will light up. Push the Left or Right analog stick in any direction and the program indicator lights will turn off. The functions of these 2 analog sticks are now swapped. If this step is repeated again, the function of these 2 analog sticks will revert back to its default function. This swap procedure does not change the function of the RC and LC key. The UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT directions on the analog stick can not be swapped. This only swaps analog sticks. Left analog stick will now be where the Right analog stick is and the Right analog stick will be where the Left analog stick.

(3). Display the programmed buttons.
By pressing on the program button “P”, some of the programmed buttons will be light up in red. On the XCM Swapper, press the program button “P” again to exit out of programming mode.

If you set the “L2” key to the “R2” key, “O" key to the “X” key, when pressing on the program button “P”, the yellow printed words “L2”, “O” and the silver printed words “R2”, “X”, will all be light up.

Note: the setting will be saved for the next gameplay (ONLY for the same game)

(4). How to clear the settings.
a. If you want to clear a single setting, for instance: you had set “/\" key to replace the “X" key, press the program button “P” once. The silver printed word “X”, yellow printed word “/\” and program indicator will all be light up in red. Now press the silver printed word “X” program button once. The program indicator will begin to blink, Press the silver printed “X” program button again and the program indicator will stay red. The silver printed word “X” and yellow printed word “/\” indicator will be off. Finally press the program button “P” to exit the programming mode.

b. To clear all the swapped settings, simply press and hold the program button “P” until the program indicator starts to blink. Release the button and the program indicator lights will turn off after 3 seconds. All the swapped setting are now cleared and reverted back to default settings.

Here is a video on how to use XCM Swapper for PlayStation 3:



Conclusion : Overall, the XCM Swapper for PlayStation 3 does what it's suppose to do and allow you to swap buttons. The fact that its plug and play with no extra steps to get it working is awesome. Some games already allow you to swap buttons but not all games do or give you complete freedom to swap buttons. With the XCM Swapper, you have full control of how you want to map your buttons to your liking. There was no noticeable lag during gameplay. ...

Spanish Developer dospiedras1973, has released his method to downgrade Slim PS3 Consoles on firmware 3.70. PS3Hax member mximposter was nice enough to correct and provide an actual Spanish-to-English translation. As a reminder, this works ONLY for PS3's with NOR. NAND models does not have a downgrade available...yet.



Source: Eltorado

dospiedras1973 has updated the post with the following new details:Dospiedras1973 was also kind enough to post this update on PS3HaX for all the noobies: ...